Improvement in meat-choppers



aosnrn n. H BER, OFLANOASTER, PENNSYLVANIA. l

IMPROVEMENT m MEAT-CVI-IOPPVERYS-I" Specification formingpart of LettersPatent No.194,:302 d A g application filed 1 I Apri118,1877.'

To all whom it may concern: x

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H.HUBER, of the city of Lancaster, in theState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements inMeat-Chopping Machines, of which the following'is a specification:

This improvement relates to a class of meatcutters in which the knivesoperate vertically in a head-block mounted on a reciprocatingshaft'within a hopper, over and around a revolving block-when operatedby steam, having the cylinder, steam-chest, pump, and appliancesarranged centrally under the revolving block, so as to exclude alldroppings of oil or dirt from the machinery among the meat on the block,arranged as herein more fully set forth.

The accompanying drawing, with the let ters of reference marked thereonand a brief description, will enable those skilled in the art to makeand use the same.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, with the block and hopper in place. Fig.2 is a side elevation, with the block, hopper, and knives detached. Fig.3 illustrates the knives and head with its central female screw. Fig. 4is a plan viewot the intermediate bearings and arrangement of the gear,shafts, crank, cross-head, &c.

The frame-work consists of the corner supports or legs A, provided witha flange or foot, on, for bolting them to the floor or base The topplate D, supported and firmly secured upon them, has a central column,a, through which the shaft qp of the knife-head passes, and is guidedand held in its vertical reciprocating motions, hereinafter more fullyexplained. p

The central plate or open platform 0, with its pendent flanges, alsobraces the cornersupports A and provides a seat for the bearings for theshafts, boxes, and gearings combined, as shown by Fig. 4. A pair ofstout guide-rods, K, are secured by screw-nuts on the upper surface ofthe top plate D, and to a shelf plate or flange, M, which supports thecombined steam-cylinder E, valve-chest F, with its steam-inlet, f, andexhaust, (the latter not seen,) and pump H, with their respective rods IG and piston P P. From this lower central plate M stay-rods z radiate tothe four corner-posts. There is also a plate, L, above the body of thesteam-cylinder, to steady the pump and piston-heads g is. is connectedto the cross-head O H. This is confined in its up-and-down motion by theguide-rods K, which pass through the prolonged ends on the lower portionof the crosshead, which has a central open horizontal slot I withrounded ends. A crank-pin connects the disks 0 near their outer edge,one on each side, so that the reciprocal vertical motion of thecross-head imparts a rotary motion'to the crank-shafts S, connectedcentrally with the disks 0, as is well understood in mechanics.

In connection with one of the crankshafts S is a disk, ;l ;-'ha'ving aneccentric groove for a lug or pin connected with the valve-rod band c,which band has an open vertical slot through which the shaft passes asthe band is drawn up and down by its connection with the eccentricgrooved disk, and its rotary motion made reciprocal for actuating thevalverod Gr attached to said band.

B shows the boxes for the crankshaft X, the fly or balance wheel on theone side. On the opposite side of the crank-shaft there is a staggerworm-gear, Q-that is, a portion of the thread is straight, so as not toact on the cogs of a pinion, U, at certain intervals. This pinion iscombined with a smaller pinion, V, above it on the same spindle, whichlatter imparts motion to the cogged wheel T on a vertical shaft, Y,which carries a pinion, Z, at its top above the upper plate D of themachine.

The block B B is provided with a cogged wheel or ring, m, centrallyaffixed to the under side, and with it lifts oft and on for cleaning, asit fits closely around the central axis or column a. The pinion Zengages with the cogs on the said ring m, and imparts its intermittentmotion to the revolving block by means of the stagger screw-gear Q and.duplicate pinions U V, so arranged that the block is at rest at the timethe knives pass through and out of the meat on the block, thuspreventing the tendency to scrape, found to be so injurious to the blockand edge of the knives, besides a great strain on the gear and powerapplied. The knife-head can be accurately adjusted on the screw end q ofthe shaft p,and held by a jam-nut in place.

I do not claim any special novelty in the steam-cylinder valve and pumparrangement, with its cross-head and appliances separately considered,but in the arrangement and adaptation of the general construction of ameatcutting machine, independent of the steam appliances.

I am not aware that a cog-wheel centrally attached under a rotatingblockoperated intermittently by means of a staggered screw-gear and duplicatepinions was ever before known or used as herein set forth.

I am aware, however, that in Patent No. 157,164, November 24, 1874, anintermittent rotation is imparted to the block by means of eccentrics onthe inside of a cogged wheel, which eccentrics engage with inclinedcircumferential cogs. Such an arrangement 1 disclaim. Nor do I claimimparting an intermittent motion, simply as such; therefore,

What I claim as my improvement in a meatchopper isv 1. The combinationof the supporting-plates M, L, and O with the top D, having a centralguide-column, n, for the shaft 1), cross-head G H, and guide-bars K, andthe central arrangement of the steam-cylinder and appliances foroperating the knives, all substantially as and for the purpose shown andspecified.

2. The combination and arrangement of the crank-shaft S, worm-gear Q,double pinion U V, cog-wheel T, and pinion Z, both on the same verticalshaft Y, the whole substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH H. HUBER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, J AGOB STAUFFER.

